A/N: Another chapter is here! Though, I have to say, I was a little disappointed at the lack of enthusiasm I received on the last chapter. I figured all of you Java Junkies would be thrilled with a chapter dedicated solely to them. Here's another one done, tell me what you think!

Disclaimer: I don't own…

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Lorelai couldn't sleep, she was too excited. Glancing over Luke's shoulder she read the clock, it was glowing brightly 8:30 in the morning. She had to bit her lip to keep from squealing. She looked lovingly at Luke, wishing he'd wake up, but knowing he needed more sleep after driving so long the last couple days she let him be. Climbing slowly and quietly out of bed she started a pot of coffee in the adjourning sitting room, then grabbed her phone and headed out onto the balcony. She dialed Rory's number and excitedly held the phone to her ear and waited.

"Good morning, aren't you up early today?" Rory's voice greeted and she smiled. Lorelai missed Rory already, but this time apart would be fruitful for both. They were both growing up and maturing, starting to live their separate lives, but still unusually connected.

"I couldn't sleep, I'm too excited," Lorelai happily informed, having already rubbed in her daughter's face the stop they'd planned for today.

"I can't believe you got Luke to agree to a full day at the mall," Rory's comment had been the same since she found out. Lorelai simply smiled thinking of the sleeping man inside the room.

"Well, it isn't just any mall, it's the Mall of America and we'll be spending a good chunk of the day at the amusement park anyways."

"True, true, take lots of pictures. I want a full detailed summary of the whole trip when you finally get back."

"Of course, I've already had to empty my digital camera onto my laptop once. I'm glad I brought it with me."

"You aren't working too much are you?" Rory asked, she always held that concern for her mom.

"Nope, actually I'm really not. I'm keeping in touch with Michel and Sookie via email, but they are keeping things working and running smoothly at the inn. There isn't anything I have to worry about."

"Good, you deserve to enjoy this vacation with Luke and not have to really worry about anything else."

"Thanks hon, that is exactly what I'm doing," Lorelai told her daughter, the smile on her face growing.

"So, call me later and let me know how the shopping was. I've got to go if I want to be on time for work."

"Okay and I better start getting ready. I want to be there when they open the doors," Lorelai's excited couldn't be hid.

"God help Luke. Love you mom."

"Love you too."

After hanging up the phone Lorelai went to get showered and dressed for her day at the mall, careful to let Luke sleep as long as possible.

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Luke woke up to the sound of running water and instinctively reached over to pull Lorelai closer to him, but was greeted with only her pillow. Groaning he pulled himself up and stretched, realizing that she must be already in the shower. He glanced at the clock and laughed. Of course she's up already, he thought, we are hitting the largest mall in America today, she probably couldn't sleep last night.

Luke threw his legs over the side of the bed, determined to wake himself up enough to be ready to go within the half hour.

"Hey, you're up," Lorelai greeted as she walked out of the bathroom several minutes later, clad only in a towel, hair still dripping.

"Yup, why didn't you wake me up?" Luke asked, pulling her into a hug, kissing her still very wet shoulder.

"You looked so peaceful sleeping and you drove so much yesterday I figured it was only fair to let you sleep. Plus, you'll be spending the whole day with me at the mall, you'll need your rest," Lorelai joked, and Luke shrugged, knowing it was probably true.

"I thank you for that. So, you are really going to make me go to the mall all day?" Luke asked, his turn to play a joke.

"Um yes, though we'll spend a good amount of time in the park, so it won't be all shopping," Lorelai answered, hoping he wouldn't back out.

"Okay, sounds good. When do you want to leave?"

"Soon! The mall opens at ten, but I want to grab something to eat first. Can you be ready to leave in thirty minutes?"

"The question is can you?"

"Um, hello! I'm going to the Mall of America; I could be ready to go in ten minutes."

Luke looked at her, eyes raised. "Ten minutes huh?"

"Well, probably more like twenty, but certainly in thirty."

"Thirty minutes it is," Luke replied, holding in his laughter till he was behind the bathroom door. It surprised him when Lorelai was right and twenty five minutes later they were walking out the door headed to breakfast.

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"Oh my god, this place is beautiful," gasped Lorelai as they entered The Mall of America, the day's crowd already gathering.

"Beautiful might be a stretch," Luke complained automatically and Lorelai punched him gently in the arm.

"It is," Lorelai interrupted, pulling her camera out. "Rory is going to be even more jealous when I send her these pictures."

"It's a mall; I really am failing to see the importance…"

"Don't even think about finishing that Luke. This is not just any mall, this is The Mall of America the biggest, most glorious mall in the whole country and I'm here, shopping at it." Lorelai twirled her arms around dramatically and Luke could only sigh.

"Okay, okay, I'm done complaining I promise," Luke surrendered and was rewarded by a kiss. "Where to first?"

"No where in particular. We'll just start walking around until I find a store…oh, cute jacket. This is our first stop," Lorelai hurriedly went into the first store they stopped at and Luke just stood there laughing. As Luke followed Lorelai around the clothing store he thought about how much his life had changed since he met her and invited her to be apart of his life. It had been over ten years that they had known each other and through that time he'd regained his love of life.

Yes, there had been those dark times, when they were fighting after Rory and Jess' car accident, or their first break up, and the most horrific, when she had gone to him, and ended up married. But even through those times he knew that she was the one ray of sunshine in his life that would be there, giving his life hope and happiness. He knew that he'd never do anything to jeopardize that happiness again. He was all in, and this time, he meant it with everything inside of him. He couldn't hide the smile that covered his face.

After several hours of he was amazed at the abilities his girlfriend held. He knew Lorelai had shopping powers but he'd never experienced them like this before. He'd seen the fruits of her many shopping trips for him over the years, but had always managed to get out of the actual going with her until today. He couldn't believe it.

"Hey Luuke," Lorelai started to whine, "Can we go get something to eat now? I'm hungry."

"Sure, let's just take these bags to the car and then we'll hit the food court," Luke offered and Lorelai agreed happily. They walked back through the mall hand in hand, separating only to hit different food vendors.

"Salad? Come on Luke, splurge a little, we're on vacation," Lorelai said with a mouthful of Chinese food.

"No thanks, I'm perfectly happy with just this thanks," Luke shoved a huge piece of lettuce in his mouth and smiled, Lorelai just cringed. They settled comfortable into their bantering as they ate, discussing what they were going to do with the rest of their day.

"I say we hit the park next! I'm a roller coaster junkie," Lorelai exclaimed, pointing to the amusement park on the center of the mall's map.

"Roller coaster's work for me, though we did just eat."

"I've got a stomach of steel, it won't bother me. Plus, the roller coasters here are fairly timid."

"Sounds good, to the park."

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Rory hated the game of phone tag and that is what she's been playing with Logan over the days since Luke gave her his letter. The messages had started stiff and unsure on both ends, and has the week progressed they got funnier, more relaxed, almost to the point before his proposal and the break up. No matter how easy it was getting to talk to him through phone messages, she needed to talk to him, to really talk to him, and to see him. She was hoping this would end soon.

When her phone started singing she smiled. Her mom's phone calls always did that. Her mom and Luke had only left five days ago, but she missed them already, the calls her mom made were the thing helping to get her through.

"Hey," she said into the phone, not sure with what she'd be greeted with.

"Oh my God, this place is gorgeous, amazing, thrilling, and about a thousand other words! You have to take a trip here sometime," Lorelai gushed into the phone in a rush.

"Yeah? I can't wait to see the pictures and here the stories. You aren't driving Luke crazy yet are you?"

"Nope, not at all," Lorelai started and Rory coughed jokingly, "well, maybe a little."

Luke knew they were talking about him; Lorelai always got a little mischievous smile when they were discussing him, but he chose to ignore it for now. It couldn't be anything horrible.

Rory and Lorelai spoke for awhile, laughing and joking with all anecdotes of the shopping trip, getting a good laugh at several Luke stories, with him cringing and throwing his opinions in when called for. When Luke threatened to take her phone and throw it into a fountain they were passing Lorelai quickly sad good bye, but not before promising more stories when she and her phone were safe.

Hanging up the phone Rory sighed, alone in her apartment, her thoughts surrounding her. Changing from her business suit she threw on her much more comfortable everyday wear and planned on heading out. She wasn't sure what she'd do tonight, but she needed to find something and fast. Something that would keep her mind occupied on anything but a blonde hair, green-eyed boy.

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Lorelai cuddled closer to Luke, a satisfied smile on both of their faces. He had already started to doze off and she wasn't close behind, but her thoughts kept her awake longer. She was thinking about their future, kids, and the white picket fence she had always seen in the picture that filled her mind. She dozed off, smiling and happy, the sweet taste of apple juice still on her lips.

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"We have to listen to Chicago as we drive to Chicago," Lorelai argued the next morning as they drove.

"I hate Chicago; can't we listen to something else?"

"One song?"

"Fine, one song, then turn it to something else," Luke relented and Lorelai smiled at the victory her pout secured for her once again.

Blasting the radio, Lorelai rolled the window down letting her brunette curls dance in the wind. She loved the feel of the wind on her face and catching Luke's eye she smiled brightly. He'd been the one to suggest Chicago after seeing how close they were anyways. They'd spend a few days there, catch all the sights then move on.

Thinking about home she smiled sadly. She missed Sookie and the Inn, she even actually missed her parents, but not having Rory there would be utterly depressing.

Shaking her head she pushed those thoughts away, now was not the time be sad. She was with Luke, flying down the highway, on their way to another fun stop. She had every reason to be thrilled right now; she wasn't going to let herself be sad.

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A/N: Please leave me some reviews! I'd love to see what ya'll think!